What are the different types of curls?
Curl type refers to the shape and structure of naturally curly or wavy hair. Curly hair is categorized into one of three curl types (2, 3, or 4) to determine if your hair is wavy, curly, or coily, and one of three sub-categories (A, B, or C), which are used to further differentiate the degree of curl within the main category. Understanding your curl type is important for choosing the best hair care products and styling techniques for your hair. Type 2, or wavy hair, falls somewhere between straight and curly. It can be fine or coarse and typically forms loose S shapes. People with Type 2 hair often struggle with frizz, especially in humid environments. Read more here. Type 3, or curly hair, ranges from loose, loopy curls to tight, springy corkscrews. These S-shaped curls form clear spirals and are often prone to frizz and some shrinkage. Read more here. Type 4, or coily hair, consists of very tight, small curls that are prone to major shrinkage. Type 4 hair is naturally very dry and spongy in texture and can be soft and fine or coarse and wiry. Read more here. Type 1 hair simply refers to straight hair. Within each numbered category, Type As are the widest or loosest curl patterns, Type Bs are medium-width, and Type Cs are the smallest or tightest. Meet the wikiHow Experts Nöel Reid-Killings is a professional hair stylist and the owner of Nöel New York Salon & Boutique. She has over a decade of experience. Bianca Cox is a hair stylist, licensed cosmetologist, owner of The Hair Throne, and co-owner of Bianchi Salon. Michael Van den Abbeel is a professional hair stylist and the owner of Mosaic Hair Studio and Blowout Bar in Orlando, Florida. He has been cutting and styling hair for over 17 years. Jasmin Todd is a curly hair specialist and the owner and master stylist at Austin Curls in Austin, Texas. She has over 22 years of experience. Kana Ishii is a licensed cosmetologist in the US and Japan with over 18 years of experience. She is currently based in Beverly Hills.
Type 2 Curls
2A curls 2A hair has loose, barely-there waves that are fine and easy to style. This curl type has the loosest S pattern and can be easily straightened or curled with heat tools. People with 2A curls should avoid using heavy styling products, which can weigh their strands down and make them look limp. Care and styling tips: Use an airy, water-based styling foam to fight frizz and add body to your waves. Brush damp hair with a wide-tooth comb or wet brush for pain-free detangling. Avoid brushing your hair while it’s dry to prevent frizz and breakage. Product recommendations: John Frieda Frizz Ease Dream Curls Curl Reviver Mousse, Davines Curl Moisturizing Mousse
2B curls 2B hair typically lies flatter at the crown of the head and forms S-shaped waves further down the shaft. These hair strands are thicker in texture, more prone to frizz, and more difficult to straighten than 2A hair. Care and styling tips: Use a texturizing mist or sea salt spray to moisturize and enhance your waves. If your curls tend to flatten throughout the day, diffuse your hair to maximize volume and hold. Product recommendations: Ouai Wave Spray, Curlsmith Defrizzion Travel Hair Dryer & Diffuser Expert tip: To enhance your natural curls, professional hair stylist Bianca Cox recommends choosing moisturizing shampoos, conditioners, and creams. Look for products that are “alcohol-free because alcohol dries the hair out.”
2C curls 2C hair is the thickest, tightest, and most frizz-prone of the wavy hair types. These waves have a well-defined S-pattern that begins at the crown and travels down the hair shaft. In some cases, there may even be a few ringlets. Care and styling tips: To keep your 2C hair well-moisturized, opt for a non-lathering, sulfate-free co-wash treatment. Apply a leave-in conditioner to lock in your wave pattern and prevent frizz. Product recommendations: As I Am Coconut Cleansing Conditioner, Design Essentials Almond & Avocado Curl Enhancing Mousse Expert tip: Co-washing refers to only washing your hair with conditioner, not shampoo. Professional hair stylist Michael Van den Abbeel explains, “If [you] over-shampoo, that actually exacerbates the problem with frizz because curly hair needs some of the natural oils to smooth it down.”
Type 3 Curls
3A curls The 3A curl type has wide, bouncy, spiral-shaped curls that are about the width of a piece of sidewalk chalk. The curls travel from root to tip. 3A hair is typically drier and less prone to frizz than 3B and 3C hair. Care and styling tips: Rake a dollop of curl cream or mousse through damp hair and scrunch out the excess water to hydrate and define your curls’ texture. Spritz your curls with a curl refresher as needed to maintain bounce. Product recommendations: SGX NYC Curl Power Nourishing Curl Cream, Carol’s Daughter Hair Milk Curl Refresher Spray Expert tip: Van den Abbeel says your hair should make a wet, squishy sound when you’re scrunching: “That means there’s enough moisture in the hair.”
3B curls 3B curls are tighter, springy ringlets about the circumference of a Sharpie marker. These curls provide a lot of body and volume, but are often dry and prone to frizz and breakage. 3B curls typically have a medium to coarse texture. Care and styling tips: Opt for moisturizing curl gels with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and aloe vera extract to fight dryness. Apply a curl cream to damp or wet hair and scrunch to accentuate your curls. Product recommendations: Mielle Organics Honey & Ginger Styling Gel, Curls Goddess Botanical Gel Expert tip: To create more volume when you scrunch your hair, Van den Abbeel recommends leaning over and scrunching at the root area. However, he warns that you shouldn’t run your fingers through your hair, as this will cause your curls to be less defined and may increase frizz.
3C curls 3C hair consists of tight, densely-packed corkscrew ringlets about the circumference of a straw or pencil. Because the strands are densely gathered, this hair type has a lot of natural volume. It’s also prone to dryness and frizz. Care and styling tips: Scrunch in a thick, hydrating, curl-defining mousse or cream to keep your curls smooth and bouncy. Apply a sulfate-free, non-drying, creamy cleanser to tame flyaways and reduce frizziness. Product recommendations: Oyin Handmade Ginger Mint Co-Wash, Rucker Roots Texture Styling Mousse, Eden Bodyworks Coconut Shea Curl Defining Creme Expert tip: If you have thick, curly hair, master hair stylist Jasmin Todd recommends looking for shampoos and conditioners that help block humidity: “You can find a variety of products specific to thick, curly hair on the internet. Ouidad curly hair products are popular and highly rated.”
Type 4 Curls
4A curls 4A curls form a tightly-coiled S pattern with spirals about the circumference of a crochet needle. These coils start at the root and maintain texture throughout the hair. 4A curls generally retain moisture better than other curl types. Care and styling tips: Apply a thick, hydrating leave-in conditioner or curl-defining cream to keep your curls soft and bouncy. Go for a low-manipulation protective style to prevent breakage, and deep condition once a week. Product recommendations: Pattern Beauty Styling Cream for Curly and Coily Hair, Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen & Restore Leave-In Conditioner EXPERT TIP Jasmin Todd Jasmin Todd Master Hair Stylist Jasmin Todd is a Master Stylist and the Owner of Austin Curls in Austin, TX. With over 20 years of experience, she specializes in cutting and styling naturally curly hair. Jasmin trained at the world-famous Ouidad salon and is Ouidad certified. In 2022, Mane Addicts named Austin Curls as one of the Top U.S. Salons for Curly Hair. Jasmin Todd Jasmin Todd Master Hair Stylist Deep condition curly hair to eliminate frizz. Deep conditioning helps most curl types stay hydrated. Deep condition with a heating cap or hooded dryer weekly during dry winter months and every other week during warmer months to keep frizz away.
4B curls 4B hair has very tight coils that often form a Z-shape or zigzag pattern. These curls are tightly packed and wiry to the touch, and they’re more prone to shrinkage than other curl types. Care and styling tips: Apply a thick, hydrating curl cream to define your curl pattern for better texture and length. Use styling creams for palm-rolling (rolling your hair into locs or twists) or shingling (using product to manipulate individual curls with your fingers). Product recommendations: 4U by Tia Leave-In Curl Cream, Morroccanoil Hydrating Styling Cream
4C curls 4C hair has the tightest coils of all curl types. These coils have a defined zigzag pattern and a dense texture that’s prone to shrinkage. The Z pattern formed is so tight and dense that it’s almost indiscernible, and these curls are more fragile than other curl types. Care and styling tips: Apply nourishing leave-in moisturizers and hair oils to protect your coils and add moisture. Use a hair mask to soften and detangle your hair while adding intense hydration. Product recommendations: Mizani True Textures Moroccan Clay Steam Mask, Carol’s Daughter Goddess Strength 7 Oil Blend Scalp & Hair Oil
How to Determine Your Curl Type
Use a curl type chart. “A classification chart exists to help determine what your curl type is,” explains Todd. “This information will help you navigate through products and the kind of regimen your curls work best with.” Compare your natural, dry hair to a curl type chart and see which curl pattern looks most similar to yours. This is an easy way to determine your curl type. Still not sure which curl type you have? Take our quiz to find out!
Examine the shape of your hair strands. While your hair is wet, remove a few strands and lay them flat on a surface. As they dry, pay attention to what shape they take on. Or, simply observe the hair on your head after thoroughly washing and air drying it. Here’s what to look out for: S-shape: If the hairs bend in a loose S shape, you likely have wavy (or Type 2) hair. Corkscrew: If your hairs curl more tightly into a corkscrew shape, you likely have curly (Type 3) hair. Z-shape: If your hairs curl into a Z or a very tight corkscrew shape, you likely have coily (Type 4) hair.
Look at the thickness of your hair strands. Curly hair can be any level of thickness, but determining your hair thickness can further help you figure out your hair type and find the best products and care routines for your unique curl pattern. Here’s how to determine your hair thickness: Thin hair strands are smaller than a line of sewing thread. Medium hair strands are about the same diameter as a piece of thread. Thick hair strands are wider than a strand of thread.
Determine the texture of your hair strands. Your hair’s texture often affects how frizzy it is, so knowing your texture can help you choose the right styling products for your curl type. Here are the common texture categories and what they mean: Thready: Thready hair has a low sheen but a high shine when stretched. It’s not very prone to frizz, but it doesn’t hold moisture long. It wets easily and dries quickly. Wiry: Wiry hair has a sparkly sheen and low shine. It tends to resist water and can be prone to frizz. Silky: Silky hair has low sheen but is very shiny. It gets wet easily and is not usually prone to frizz. Spongy: Spongy hair has high sheen and low shine. It’s prone to shrinkage and compact frizzing, and it absorbs water but takes a while to become thoroughly wet. Cottony: Cottony hair has low shine but a high sheen when stretched. It is prone to frizz and doesn’t get wet easily.
Check your hair’s porosity. “Curl porosity, simply put, is the ability to absorb and retain moisture,” explains Todd. “Knowing porosity will help with product selection and keep curls in balance for health and styling consistency.” Low-porosity hair may struggle to retain moisture, while high-porosity hair often absorbs moisture quickly but may lose it just as fast. To determine your hair’s porosity, try the float test. Drop a strand of your hair in a glass of water. If it floats, it’s likely low-porosity. If it sinks slowly, it’s medium-porosity, and if it sinks quickly, it’s high-porosity. Licensed cosmetologist Kana Ishii adds that you should make sure your hair doesn’t have any product in it when testing for porosity.
Can you have more than one curl type?
Yes, it’s common to have more than one curl type. “Every head of curls is as unique as a fingerprint,” says Todd. Most people who have wavy or curly hair actually have more than one pattern on their head. Your scalp’s follicles can vary at different spots on your head, and you may have a mix of curl patterns due to genetics, hormonal changes, and environmental factors. It’s totally normal!
What determines curl type?
Curl type is determined by the shape of your hair follicles. Your curl type is primarily determined by genetics, specifically the shape of your hair follicles and the distribution of proteins within the hair shaft. Curly hair comes from follicles that are asymmetrical, or oval-shaped. This causes the hair to bend as it grows. The flatter the oval, the tighter the curls. Straight hair, on the other hand, grows from symmetrical, or circular, follicles. Curly hair types also have more protein bonds in the hair shaft than straight hair because cysteine, a sulfur-containing amino acid, is found abundantly in the hair’s keratin. The cysteines bond with other cysteines further down the shaft, causing hair to curl.
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